Phones in pockets may harm male fertility

London: Men who keep a mobile phone in their trouser pocket could be inadvertently damaging their chances of becoming a father, according to a new study.

Scientists at the University of Exeter said their work suggested that exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones negatively affected sperm quality - but further research was needed.

Previous studies have suggested that radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices can have a detrimental effect on male fertility.

Most of the global adult population own mobile phones, and around 14 per cent of couples in high and middle income countries have difficulty conceiving.

A team led by Dr Fiona Mathews, of the University of Exeter, conducted a systematic review of the findings from 10 studies, including 1492 samples, with the aim of clarifying the potential role of this environmental exposure.

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Participants in the studies were from fertility clinics and research centres and sperm quality was measured in three different ways: motility, viability and concentration.

In control groups, 50 to 85 per cent of sperm have normal movement. The researchers found this proportion fell by an average of 8 per cent when there was exposure to mobile phones.

Similar effects were seen for sperm viability. The effects on sperm concentration were less clear.

Dr Mathews said: "Given the enormous scale of mobile phone use around the world, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified.